Chapter 7

• Chapter 7: Darius’s Memories
• ARIA POV
• Except for the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, the darkened woods were eerily quiet. The agony of the rogue's strike caused my head to spin, making everything around me unclear and confusing. I was having trouble staying aware, and my chest was heaving and my breath was raspy.
• I had to maintain my concentration. I needed to recall my purpose for being here.
• But before I could get my bearings again, I sensed a familiar but ominous presence.
• A voice, low and pained with something I couldn't quite name, said, "Aria."
• My pulse quickened as I froze. I slowly raised my head, noting Darius Blackthorn's angular features in the moonlight.
• There was something in his golden eyes that made me shiver, something that had before seemed chilly and distant. I'm sorry.
• "Why are you in this place?" I was able to croak, but it was just a broken whisper. I should have been upset, perhaps enraged. Even though my whole existence was screaming for me to leave, there was an unexplainable pull in his eyes that held me still.
• Darius took a long, methodical stride toward me, as if he didn't want to scare me away. His voice was harsh as he said, "I didn't want this." Aria, I never intended to do you any harm. You must trust me.
• With my heart still pounding from the last of the excitement, I sneered. "You expect me to believe you?" My mouth felt harsh from the words. "After everything?"
• His voice became more frantic as he emphasized, "I didn't betray you." "I wasn't the one. You must comprehend. I was manipulated, controlled. I—
• "Cease." My comments, piercing and poisonous, interrupted him. "You dare not attempt to distort the facts. I was slain by you. You—
• "Ariana, I didn't kill you." A searing agony flickered behind his eyes as his voice broke. "I made an effort to rescue you. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to resist it. You're not understanding. I wasn't the one. I was unable to escape the curse.
• A curse. The term reverberated in my head, circling my ideas.
• "You're saying that you were forced to kill me by someone?" My voice wavered with incredulity. "You think I'm just going to accept that after everything?"
• With a frantic gaze, Darius drew closer to us. It's the reality. Death was never intended for you. I wasn't meant to— His hands clenched at his sides as he interrupted himself. But I was broken in some way. Something old, something evil, something that dominated me.
• I wanted to yell at him, to deny his statements outright. However, there was a little part of me that shuddered in the back, a glimmer of uncertainty that flickered like a light in the wind.
• I shook my head and exhaled, "You're lying." "You're merely attempting to control me once more."
• Darius's shoulders sagged as if the whole world were pressing down on him, and his eyes briefly strayed to the floor. "I wish I was." The truth is not as important to me as being the monster you believe me to be.
• I swallowed forcefully, attempting to control the surge of feelings in my chest. "And, Darius, what is the truth?"
• A combination of sorrow and agony flooded his eyes as they met mine. "I don't recall every detail. Things that don't make sense are gaps. However, I am aware that I didn't intend to murder you. I wanted to keep you safe.
• His remarks were like a kick to the stomach. I started to shove him away with a reply, but the words stuck in my throat. The guy in front of me now was different from the recollection of the blade piercing my skin and of Darius towering over me, with the icy, aloof expression in his gaze.
• "Why ought I to trust you?" My voice was almost heard as I whispered.
• With hesitation, Darius extended his hand and took a step closer. "Because I always loved you, Aria."
• The impact of those words was more intense than I had anticipated, and I winced. The years of resentment and fury rose to the surface, but below it was a vulnerability, a need.
• My voice cracked as I replied, "I loved you, too." "But the knife was not stopped because you didn't love me enough."
• His face twisted in agony. "I was unable to! I was unable to escape the spell. And I wasn't sure if I could ever make things right after seeing you and what I had done. I believed I had lost you for good.
• I steadied my voice and continued, "You did lose me." "You're telling me that you want another chance now?"
• His voice was desperate as he replied, "I want to make it right." "I want to show you that I'm not who you believe me to be. that this is not what I ever wanted. Although I was unable to stop it, I will now. I promise.
• I shook my head, feeling as if the opposing forces inside me would rip me to pieces. "You think I'll just pardon you? after everything?
• "I'm not asking for forgiveness," Darius muttered. "I have no expectations. I just want you to be aware of the reality. Aria, I never betrayed you. I was a slave to forces beyond my control, a puppet. However, now... His voice softened as he paused. "I'm free now."
• I stepped back, my thoughts whirling. This was not feasible. He could not be being honest. Could he?
• My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp commotion behind me. With my pulse pounding, I turned to see Killian come out of the darkness, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the image.
• With a gloomy tone and barely controlled stress, he questioned, "Is this a private conversation?"
• Startled, I said, "Killian." "Why are you in this place?"
• With his eyes darting between Darius and me, he said, "I followed you." "I was aware that something wasn't correct."
• Darius's face darkened as he turned to face Killian. "Draven, get out of here."
• “No chance,” Killian snarled, taking a step forward. Now, this is just between Aria and me. I won't allow you to control her once again.
• Darius' voice rose in exasperation as he said, "I'm not trying to manipulate her." "I'm attempting to be honest with her."
• I felt the tension growing as I looked back and forth between the two guys. I cut through their debate and said, "I'm not your pawn."
• With a beseeching tone, Darius pleaded, "Then stop playing the game." Aria, you must pay attention to me. The person who forced me to do it is my true adversary, not me. And if we don't stop them, it will happen once again.
• I blinked as the words gradually became clear to me. The actual adversary?
• Before I could inquire more, there was a huge crash that reverberated throughout the forest, followed by the distinct sound of snarling. The danger that filled the air around us made my pulse skip a beat.
• "Killian, Darius—" I started, but the sound of something huge and dreadful interrupted me.
• Then a person appeared out of the darkness, a figure I never thought I would see again.
• Someone from my history.
• The one responsible for everything.